Anti-ISIS coalition downs Syrian aircraft

United States-led coalition shoots down Syrian military aircraft near the city of Raqa.

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Ben Ariel, 19/06/17 03:03

International coalition air strike in Syria (archive)

Reuters

The Syrian army said on Sunday night that the United States-led coalition fighting the Islamic State (ISIS) had brought down one of its aircraft in southern Raqa, the Russian Sputnik news agency reported.

According to the report, which cited a Defense Ministry statement, the Syrian jet fighter that was downed was carrying out military tasks against ISIS.

“Our aircraft was downed at lunch time today near the [Syrian] city of Raqa, when it was fulfilling its mission against ISIS,” the ministry said in a statement quoted by Sputnik, adding that the U.S.-led coalition was responsible for downing the aircraft.

The Syrian Defense Ministry noted that the coalition’s “actions are aimed at halting the Syrian army and its allies in the fight against terrorism, whereas our army and allies make great progress.”

According to the ministry, the pilot of the aircraft has not been found to date.

The U.S. military confirmed later on Sunday that the coalition had shot down a Syrian military aircraft that dropped bombs near U.S.-backed fighters in Syria.

The U.S. Central Command issued a statement, quoted by Reuters, saying the plane was downed "in collective self-defense of Coalition-partnered forces," identified as fighters of the Syrian Democratic Forces near Tabqah.

Earlier this month, the international coalition targeted a unit of pro-regime forces in Syria as they advanced near an area where coalition commandos have been training and advising rebels.

Last September, the Pentagon admitted that the anti-ISIS coalition may have struck Syrian military positions inside the country, apologizing for the incident.